“The source of Chinese New Year is itself centuries old and gains significance because of several myths and traditions.” states Wiki. The reality of Chinese New Year in Orlando, in 2014: Sulphur clouds, traffic jams, and bizarre entertainers. I for one was not prepared.
Following up on a friends recommendation an impromptu lunch was planned, meeting at 1101 East Colonial, Chuan Lu Garden. Arriving near the hour of celebration, noon on New Years day, I attempted to meet my lunch party at Chuan Lu. My mapping app parked me across the street, in the 1100 block of East Colonial.
As I entered the back of the Tien Hung market (the only thing keeping me from Chuan Lu) the New Year’s festivities began in the front of the store. Sidewalk blocked and OPD/OFD in force. I easily understood, with the traffic impact of the pending event, the presence of Orlando’s finest. Only later would I understand the importance of the Fire Dept presence. A costly miss on my part.
The market is pretty big. With hopes of escaping from an exit OTHER than the front door I walked the perimeter of the market. I was surprised to find an excellent selection of great asian products, a great find. As a wannabe Foodie, Tien Hung Market is worth a trip back, on ANY other day.
Discovering I was boxed in. I had no exit. The front store area was packed with people. Cell phones taping the entire event.
I must explain, I am a big guy. Six and a half feet tall and compared to the patronage of a culturally specific store, I was towering over everyone else. Couple this with my suit coat and business attire, I was made as some sort of compliance officer, a definite round eye.
The winding parade of exhibitors seemed to be at every turn.
At one point, within the tight aisles of the store layout, a few of the characters squeezed past me. A symbolic dragon with an escort, half my height, fanned and gyrated as we competed for aisle space. My attempt to challenge a great restaurant review was turning to the bizarre.
The passing of the characters provided a possible opening at the front door. The throng of phone taping followers was crowding the entertainment.
The front door of the market, once blocked by symbol and drum wielding accompaniment, was now unobstructed. A small crowd, taking snaps at the front counter, my only challenge. I made my move.
Within a few minutes I was at the front door. I was committed. The market crowd, costumed characters, musical support and store staff were crowding the front door space. Seconds later the air erupted with noise. Strings of firecrackers were lit on the sidewalk, right outside the open market doors. Clouds of sulphur smoke filled the air.
Standing a head above the crowd, I took a face full of the smoke. By the time I fought my way out, through the back door, I was hacking sulphur like a veteran coal miner.
Finding myself back in the 50 degree rainy weather, as a Floridian truly brutal, I called my lunch party. A few minutes in the rain crossing SR50, betting no one would want to test the strength of their bumper against my 260 pounds, and we were seated at Chuan Lu. The Sashimi lunch plate was excellent.
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